The New England Patriots have made their mandatory reduction to 53 players. Receiver Randy Moss has made the cut, for now. Earlier on Saturday, we reported on rumors in league circles that the Pats were wrestling with whether to let Moss go, due to concerns that he might not react well if he isn't the focal point of the offense.

Meh, I don't mind Florio and the PFT crew. In fact, I have a lot of respect for the website as they seem to be getting national attention and in the new information age of endless blogs, posts, and e-opinions, that's pretty damned impressive.

The New England Patriots have made their mandatory reduction to 53 players. Receiver Randy Moss has made the cut, for now. Earlier on Saturday, we reported on rumors in league circles that the Pats were wrestling with whether to let Moss go, due to concerns that he might not react well if he isn't the focal point of the offense.

These rumors were legitimately going around since Thursday according to Tomase.

I chalk it up to a Parcellian game by BB - sending notice that if Moss dogs it on plays that he's the diversion (which as many of you might recall was EXACTLY the concern some, including myself, had prior to his signing) thereby reducing his effectiveness as a diversion, BB isn't afraid to cut him.

THAT would have major ramifications for Moss's ability to cash in on a long term contract next season. If BB thinks its worth sending a message like that I think its worth sending a message. Whether this is just preventative or there's some real concern beyond Moss' history I don't know.

This could also be an effort to get Moss back on the field... i.e. Parcell's "she" comment with Glenn - in that the Pats are willing to cut Moss if he can't play.

All of this is just a diversion for the real story - that Seymour is out for 6 weeks.

I normally hate commenting on papers, writers and the like, but PFT has been mentioned a lot today. So... my $.02

PFT has become far more like Weekly World News lately, going with more and more bizarre 'rumors'. It's also gotten self-important to the point that it pontificates about what should happen to every person who so much as stubs a toe. In other words, it's gone from being a message board source to more of a message board poster.

They reported ealier a rumor (that Tomase also reported) that Moss was gone. Therefore, one of the first things readers of the site will be looking for when they see a Patriots roster update is: did Moss make it?

They pointed out that there are now 8 receivers on our roster (two on PUP). Some of them have to go, somehow, by midseason.

Guys - he has good sources and must be hearing it from people. I was at the game Thursday and did not see Harrison or Moss on the field. Now we know why Rodney wasnt there...

Anyone who knows Belichick knows he and Pioli look for "Team first" guys. If Moss is being a selfish dick behind the scenes, then he will be gone, simple as that. Maybe this is to scare Moss into being more of a team player? At any case, my suispicion is Randy shut it down with a hamstring and Bb sees Terry Glenn all over again, and wants to get rid of him. Read the books about him, BB's big lesson from Celveland was to treat every player the same, which has worked out pretty well for him in NE so far...

Florio is degenerating into a world class jagoff. He's gone very tabloid and his sources appear less and less sound. He was wrong about Moss getting cut so now he's pissing and moaning like the little ***** he is insisting there's still a story where there is NONE.

Read my post - I'll say it again. Florio was reporting a legitimate rumor. Other reporters were aware of the rumor as well.

What's everyone's beef with the guy? His column is called the "Rumormill".

What you have to ask yourself is who was circulating the rumor. Florio didn't make it up. Was it someone connected with the team? Doing it at the behest of Belichick who might want to send a message to Moss that dogging it will result in his being cut - and hence an end to Moss' dreams of a big contract next season?

There's two possibilities here and you guys have all ruled out one of them - that the rumor was started by someone connected with the team for a reason.

We had a couple bumps in the road and everyone is panicking about everything. Yes, it sucks that Seymour is on PUP and that Harrison is suspended. Those are two big hits, but the boys will play through that. As for Moss, the potential upside of him in the line up is incredible. Would the Pats have taken the risk during the draft if they werent absolutely sure that he would not be a problem? Everyone needs to take a breath.

These rumors were legitimately going around since Thursday according to Tomase.

I chalk it up to a Parcellian game by BB - sending notice that if Moss dogs it on plays that he's the diversion (which as many of you might recall was EXACTLY the concern some, including myself, had prior to his signing) thereby reducing his effectiveness as a diversion, BB isn't afraid to cut him.

THAT would have major ramifications for Moss's ability to cash in on a long term contract next season. If BB thinks its worth sending a message like that I think its worth sending a message. Whether this is just preventative or there's some real concern beyond Moss' history I don't know.

This could also be an effort to get Moss back on the field... i.e. Parcell's "she" comment with Glenn - in that the Pats are willing to cut Moss if he can't play.

All of this is just a diversion for the real story - that Seymour is out for 6 weeks.

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It does not read like a mea culpa. The "FOR NOW" reads like a a stubborn idiot claiming that he was right when the reality is against him.

Read my post - I'll say it again. Florio was reporting a legitimate rumor. Other reporters were aware of the rumor as well.

What's everyone's beef with the guy? His column is called the "Rumormill".

What you have to ask yourself is who was circulating the rumor. Florio didn't make it up. Was it someone connected with the team? Doing it at the behest of Belichick who might want to send a message to Moss that dogging it will result in his being cut - and hence an end to Moss' dreams of a big contract next season?

There's two possibilities here and you guys have all ruled out one of them - that the rumor was started by someone connected with the team for a reason.

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How do we know they aren't in some bizarre rumor circle jerk reporting on rumors that are being started by other media sources. Answer: We don't.

I normally hate commenting on papers, writers and the like, but PFT has been mentioned a lot today. So... my $.02

PFT has become far more like Weekly World News lately, going with more and more bizarre 'rumors'. It's also gotten self-important to the point that it pontificates about what should happen to every person who so much as stubs a toe. In other words, it's gone from being a message board source to more of a message board poster.

And that's too bad, because it used to be an excellent site.

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Yes, "rumors" in the RUMOR MILL. Bizarre, huh?!

I honestly don't know why people are so down on PFT. They ARE a rumor site. They do a good job. The writing is GREAT. And when they get something wrong, they say so, apologize and move on. I wish other, more legit, news sources would be more like that.

It does not read like a mea culpa. The "FOR NOW" reads like a a stubborn idiot claiming that he was right when the reality is against him.

I don't believe much of anything Florio says.

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Well, gee, that's too bad for you, given that more often than not the rumors on there turn out to be true. The "FOR NOW" reads, to me, like their typical snarky, sardonic tone - it's just in a story, at an angle, some of us don't like.

Yes, "rumors" in the RUMOR MILL. Bizarre, huh? I honestly don't know why people are so down on PFT. They ARE a rumor site. They do a good job. The writing is GREAT. And when they get something wrong, they say so, apologize and move on. I wish other, more legit, news sources would be more like that.

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Legit rumor: Player 'a' might be cut

Bizarre rumor: player 'a' might be cut because an alien told the front office to do it.

There've been more rumors leaning towards the latter of late. As for them apologizing, that's just nonsense, "FOR NOW".